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‘Now They See Nigerians as Drug Dealers Abroad’ — Cleric Blasts Tinubu Over Nigeria’s Image
An Islamic cleric has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what he described as the growing damage to Nigeria’s reputation abroad, arguing that Nigerians are increasingly being subjected to negative perceptions because of controversies surrounding the country and its leadership.
In a video circulating on social media, the cleric expressed frustration over how Nigerians are allegedly perceived when they travel outside the country, particularly amid renewed international attention on drug-related allegations involving the President.
“Now as a Nigerian, you land anywhere around the world and they see you as a drug dealer. I have never seen cocaine, but now they think we all deal with cocaine in Nigeria because of our President,” the cleric said.
He also questioned the timing of President Tinubu’s overseas vacation, arguing that the President should be more focused on the challenges confronting Nigerians at home.
“And they said he is on vacation. In the midst of all these chaos,” he added.
The cleric’s comments come against the backdrop of renewed controversy over historical allegations linking Tinubu to drug-related investigations in the United States. The issue has generated political and public debate in recent months, with supporters of the President and his critics offering sharply different interpretations of the available records.
The controversy has also coincided with a series of major drug-trafficking cases involving Nigerian suspects. In August, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency announced the dismantling of an international cocaine trafficking network after the seizure of 184.5kg of cocaine allegedly destined for overseas markets.
Days later, the NDLEA also warned Nigerians against accepting packages or consolidated consignments from relatives and associates without knowing their contents, following cases in which illicit drugs were allegedly concealed in shipments.
However, allegations involving individual suspects or political figures do not establish that Nigerians generally are involved in drug trafficking. The cleric’s remarks represent his criticism of the situation and his perception of its effect on Nigeria’s international image.
Tinubu’s European Vacation
President Tinubu left Abuja on August 30, 2026, to begin a three-week annual leave in Europe. According to the Presidency, London was his first destination, with the trip described as a working vacation.
During the European trip, Tinubu travelled to Paris, where he held official engagements despite being on leave. On September 18, the State House confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron had received him for a private dinner at the Élysée Palace the previous night.
The Presidency has also described other engagements during the trip as part of Tinubu’s working vacation. On September 18, for example, the President met with Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group in Paris to discuss investment in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.
The cleric’s criticism therefore adds another voice to the ongoing debate over Nigeria’s international reputation, the President’s handling of controversies surrounding him, and whether his overseas engagements while on annual leave are appropriate amid domestic challenges.
A building has reportedly collapsed in Newnenta, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, raising fears that several people may have been trapped beneath the rubble.
The incident reportedly triggered panic in the community as residents rushed to the scene, where efforts were underway to search the debris and determine whether anyone was trapped inside.
Videos circulating from the scene showed residents gathered around the collapsed structure as rescue efforts continued.
The number of casualties, if any, could not immediately be confirmed, while authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident at the time of filing this report.
The cause of the collapse also remains unknown, with details of the incident still emerging.
Rescue efforts are reportedly focused on clearing the debris and determining the extent of the damage, as well as accounting for people who may have been inside the building when it collapsed.
Two Anambra-based content creators, Waga Ge Comedy and Ozigbondu Mmuo, have criticised Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration over the condition of some roads reportedly constructed under his government.
In a social media commentary, the creators claimed they had previously warned residents of Anambra State against supporting Soludo’s re-election, alleging that some newly constructed roads were already showing signs of deterioration following heavy rainfall.
They also accused the governor of devoting attention to criticism of former Anambra governor Peter Obi while allegedly failing to ensure the durability of some projects executed by his administration.
«“We warned Ndi Anambra not to vote for Governor Soludo’s re-election, but you people didn’t listen. Prof. Soludo is busy attacking Peter Obi, while the ‘Taiwan roads’ he promised Ndi Anambra are being washed away by rain. Meanwhile, the roads constructed by Peter Obi that he is attacking are still very intact,” the creators said.»
Their comments have reignited debate over Soludo’s infrastructure record, particularly his administration’s ambitious road construction programme and his broader vision of transforming Anambra into a “Dubai, Taiwan and Silicon Valley of Africa.”
Soludo has repeatedly defended the infrastructure drive. In April 2026, the Anambra State Government said more than 500 kilometres of roads had been completed, with over 800 kilometres awarded for construction since the administration came into office.
The state government also said in June that more than 760 kilometres of roads had been awarded under the administration, highlighting projects including the Nwagu Agulu–Nise Road, Amansea–Ufuma Road and Tarzan–3:3 Road.
Soludo has previously explained that his “Dubai-Taiwan” vision extends beyond physical infrastructure, arguing that the transformation of Anambra also involves education, human capital development, technology and economic growth.
The governor’s administration has also faced scrutiny over the quality and performance of individual road projects. In 2024, for instance, Soludo terminated a road contract in Okpoko over what his administration described as poor performance and delays.
The latest criticism, however, centres on claims that rainfall has damaged some roads associated with the current administration. Those specific claims have not been independently verified on a road-by-road basis.
The controversy comes as Anambra continues to debate the scale, quality and durability of infrastructure projects under Soludo, as well as comparisons between his administration and previous governments, including that of Peter Obi.
While supporters point to the volume of road construction and other infrastructure projects, critics continue to question the quality and long-term durability of some projects.
The condition of any specific road cited by the content creators would therefore need independent inspection and verification before conclusions can be drawn about the wider road programme.
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Friday set aside a judgement of the Federal High Court that deregistered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The two-member majority ruling held that the ruling of June 26, 2026, was an abuse of power, saying the court was wrong to sit over appeal of its own earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, which had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC.
The appellate judges also dismissed the adversarial claims over the NDC’s use of a logo said to belong to another political association, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was the basis of Justice Isah Dashen’s in December.
Justice Okon Abang dissented in the ruling, saying he would have upheld the deregistering of the NDC, a major opposition party under which Nigerian political figure Peter Obi is contesting the presidency in 2027.
‘Now They See Nigerians as Drug Dealers Abroad’ — Cleric Blasts Tinubu Over Nigeria’s Image
BREAKING: Building Collapses in Enugu Community, Casualties Feared
“Taiwan Roads” Washing Away? Anambra Creators Challenge Soludo Over Road Projects
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